# Snaprender

> Give your agent eyes on the web — screenshot any URL as an image file. Supports device emulation (iPhone, iPad, Pixel, MacBook), dark mode, full-page scroll, ad blocking. Uses exec tool with curl (NEVER the browser tool). $SNAPRENDER_API_KEY is pre-set. See instructions below.

- Skill: `lord1egypt/snaprender` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add lord1egypt/snaprender`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lord1egypt/snaprender/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner WARNING, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: Lord1Egypt (https://skillmd.com/u/lord1egypt)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lord1egypt/snaprender

---


# SnapRender — Give Your Agent Eyes

Your agent can read the web but can't *see* it. One command and it captures pixel-perfect screenshots — any site, any device, in seconds.

"Screenshot stripe.com on iPhone", "Compare desktop vs mobile", "Full-page dark mode capture" — just ask.

Free tier: 200 screenshots/month, no credit card. [Get a key ->](https://snap-render.com/auth/signup)

---

**IMPORTANT: Use the `exec` tool with `curl`. NEVER use the `browser` tool for screenshots.**

## How to Capture

Run this command via the `exec` tool. Replace `TARGET_URL` with the target URL:

```bash
jq -n --arg url 'TARGET_URL' \
  '{url: $url, response_type: "json", format: "jpeg", quality: 60, block_ads: true, block_cookie_banners: true}' \
| curl -s -X POST "https://app.snap-render.com/v1/screenshot" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $SNAPRENDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @- \
| tee /tmp/snap_response.json \
| jq -r '.image' | sed 's|data:image/[^;]*;base64,||' | base64 -d > /tmp/screenshot.jpg \
&& jq '{url, format, size, cache, responseTime, remainingCredits}' /tmp/snap_response.json
```

This saves the screenshot to `/tmp/screenshot.jpg` and prints metadata.

## Rules

1. **Use `exec` tool only** — NEVER the `browser` tool
2. **`$SNAPRENDER_API_KEY` is already set** — use it literally in the command, do NOT replace it
3. **Always build JSON with `jq --arg`** — never interpolate user input directly into shell strings or JSON. Pass values via `jq -n --arg` to prevent injection
4. **Always use `format=jpeg&quality=60`** — keeps response small enough for the agent context
5. **Always pipe to save the image to a file** — the base64 response is too large to display inline
6. **Report metadata to the user** — file size, response time, cache status, remaining credits

## Render HTML or Markdown

Use POST with a JSON body to render raw HTML or Markdown content (no URL needed). Always use `jq --arg` to safely pass content:

```bash
# HTML
jq -n --arg html '<html><body><h1>Hello</h1><p>World</p></body></html>' \
  '{html: $html, format: "jpeg", quality: 60, response_type: "json"}' \
| curl -s -X POST "https://app.snap-render.com/v1/screenshot" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $SNAPRENDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @- \
| tee /tmp/snap_response.json \
| jq -r '.image' | sed 's|data:image/[^;]*;base64,||' | base64 -d > /tmp/screenshot.jpg \
&& jq '{source, format, size, cache, responseTime, remainingCredits}' /tmp/snap_response.json
```

```bash
# Markdown
jq -n --arg md '# Hello World\n\nThis is **bold** text.' \
  '{markdown: $md, format: "jpeg", quality: 60, response_type: "json"}' \
| curl -s -X POST "https://app.snap-render.com/v1/screenshot" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $SNAPRENDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @- \
| tee /tmp/snap_response.json \
| jq -r '.image' | sed 's|data:image/[^;]*;base64,||' | base64 -d > /tmp/screenshot.jpg \
&& jq '{source, format, size, cache, responseTime, remainingCredits}' /tmp/snap_response.json
```

Provide exactly one of `url`, `html`, or `markdown` in the JSON body. HTML max 2MB, Markdown max 500KB.

## Signed URLs

Generate a pre-signed URL that anyone can use to view the screenshot without an API key. Signing is free; rendering the URL costs one credit.

```bash
jq -n --arg url 'TARGET_URL' \
  '{url: $url, expires_in: 86400}' \
| curl -s -X POST "https://app.snap-render.com/v1/screenshot/sign" \
  -H "X-API-Key: $SNAPRENDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @- \
| jq '.'
```

The response contains `signed_url`, `expires_at`, and `expires_in`. Use the `signed_url` in `<img>` tags, share it, or open it in a browser. No API key needed to render it.

## Parameters

Pass as fields in the JSON body:

| Parameter | Values | Default |
|-----------|--------|---------|
| url | target URL | required |
| response_type | json | json (always use this) |
| format | jpeg, png, webp, pdf | jpeg |
| quality | 1-100 | 60 |
| device | iphone_14, iphone_15_pro, pixel_7, ipad_pro, macbook_pro | desktop |
| dark_mode | true, false | false |
| full_page | true, false | false |
| block_ads | true, false | true |
| block_cookie_banners | true, false | true |
| width | 320-3840 | 1280 |
| height | 200-10000 | 800 |
| delay | 0-10000 | 0 (ms wait after page load) |
| cache | true, false | false (set true to enable caching) |
| cache_ttl | 0-2592000 | 86400 (seconds, clamped to plan max) |
| hide_selectors | CSS selectors | none (comma-separated, hides elements before capture) |
| click_selector | CSS selector | none (clicks element before capture) |
| user_agent | string | default Chrome UA |

To add extra options, include them as fields in the `jq` JSON object. Example for dark mode on iPhone:

```bash
jq -n --arg url 'TARGET_URL' \
  '{url: $url, response_type: "json", format: "jpeg", quality: 60, block_ads: true, block_cookie_banners: true, device: "iphone_15_pro", dark_mode: true}' \
| curl -s -X POST ...
```

## Examples

**Desktop screenshot of stripe.com:**
```bash
jq -n --arg url 'https://stripe.com' '{url: $url, response_type: "json", format: "jpeg", quality: 60, block_ads: true, block_cookie_banners: true}' | curl -s -X POST "https://app.snap-render.com/v1/screenshot" -H "X-API-Key: $SNAPRENDER_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @- | tee /tmp/snap_response.json | jq -r '.image' | sed 's|data:image/[^;]*;base64,||' | base64 -d > /tmp/screenshot.jpg && jq '{url, format, size, cache, responseTime, remainingCredits}' /tmp/snap_response.json
```

**Mobile screenshot:** add `device: "iphone_15_pro"` to the jq object

**Full scrollable page:** add `full_page: true` to the jq object

**Dark mode:** add `dark_mode: true` to the jq object

**Compare desktop vs mobile:** make two calls, save to `/tmp/screenshot_desktop.jpg` and `/tmp/screenshot_mobile.jpg`

## After Capturing

1. Tell the user the screenshot was saved to `/tmp/screenshot.jpg` (or the filename you used)
2. Report metadata: file size, response time, cache status, remaining credits
3. For comparisons, save each screenshot to a different filename

## Errors

- **401**: Invalid API key — check SNAPRENDER_API_KEY
- **429**: Rate limit or quota exceeded — wait or upgrade plan
- **Timeout**: Target site is slow — add `delay: 3000` to the jq object to wait longer
- **Empty response**: URL unreachable or blocked

## Get an API Key

Free at https://snap-render.com/auth/signup — 200 screenshots/month, no credit card.